I believe everyone’s life has a purpose. We are here to discover that purpose then use whatever gifts were bestowed upon us to make this world a better place. Some of us are fortunate as we know at an early age what that purpose is. Others, well, we go along, often digressing from the road that will take us there. This is me. Now on the other side of 50, I am finding my way back to that road that will lead to my life’s purpose. Welcome to my journey.

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Friday, January 1, 2016

Get up. Get Dressed. Paint. The Completed First Journal

This journey began on the 21st of March this year. The goal was to learn to paint by setting aside my fear of not being good enough. To show up once a week, enjoy the process and learn something new with every page. I gave myself permission to not to like each page but whether I liked it or not, no matter what happened, I had to finish it. Following along with Rae Missigman's 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA™ I looked forward to my early Saturday morning painting sessions. Yes, there were days of frustration - when I first used acrylic inks - and days of triumph - when I was able to draw and paint a vase of flowers free hand - and pages I hated - using glossy black page to cover up what I just painted.

This week I completed the journal, painting the last two pages and the cover.

For this spread she showed a new technique for laying down paint on a blank page; put small dots of paint on the page then use a brayer to spread the paint. This was a quick and fun way to get rid to that white page.

the carnage

the completed page

This page is a bit busier that I like and I'm reminded how much I do not like using black to paint in areas of white.

I found I was much more confident freehand drawing the flower using a waterbrush filled with India ink.

I forgot about this technique; painting in the loops of your writing.

What I learned

To get rid of the dreaded blank white page, put several dots of paint down then brayer over them - instant background!

While she uses Dylusions spray ink in a waterbrush, I found I could use the plastic dip tube to place dots of ink where I want it then use a thin brush to paint in the area (note the yellow in the photo above).

Two other pages I completed:

I enjoyed free hand painting this big, bold flower. Her page found HERE. I noticed the pink paint came up through the white paint in the flower petals and numbers making them a pale pink.

Using yellow spray ink to add a burst of color

I learned to stamp the remaining ink on a stamp onto book page for later use. Her page found HERE.

The cover

Unlike many artists, I save the cover for last. Mainly this is because I admit to being messy whether it is with paint or glue. I don't want to spend time creating a beautiful cover only to get stray paint or globs of glue on it.

For this pulled out all my favorite paints and stencils and I used some of the techniques I learned from her that I enjoyed.

The dark burgundy cover fell off from the stress of so much paint

Covered with gesso and allowed to dry over night

Completed cover

I am proud of the fact that I painted this on my own, not using any videos or Pinterest pages for inspiration. I created following my own intuition.

I practiced writing the title before taking a huge breathe

and writing it on the cover.

Using the same waterbrush filled with India ink to outline the flower.

What I learned from this journey

I can paint even though it is not in the traditional sense.

Rae taught me that it is okay to not like a page. Keep it and move on. Before I would have thrown it out or painted over it.

to accept my handwriting (BIG step!)

The most important: No matter what the project, even its for play or leftover paint, use a best journal you can afford! You never know what will happen while creating. Something fabulous may come out of it and you don't want it to be on cheap paper.

I do not like black paint on my page!

Have a journal handy to spread left over paint and ink in then use those pages as a starting point to paint

Techniques I learned:

Spread leftover paint out on deli paper to use like a gelli print.

Cutting out scraps of paper and gluing them down on a page adds texture and an element to paint around.

Use a Stabilo pencil then go over it with a water brush

use paint on a stamp and accept that the paint will blur the image somewhat

Use a white gel pen to outline or circle something to make it stand out

Drip acrylic ink down a page

mark making

use the hard end of a paint brush to scratch designs through wet paint

stamp an image using permanent ink them paint it in to add color

New supplies I learned to use:

Stabilo pencils

acrylic ink

waterbrushes

fine tip waterbrush filled with India ink (my favorite)

stencils

Paper Mates 1.3mm mechanical pencils

Elmer's paint markers (love - hate relationship with these: love them when they work, hate them when they don't)

Dylusions paint and Dina Wakley heavy body acrylic paint

Joining
Paint Party Friday where having paint under the fingernails is the norm. What colors are under yours?

What a fabulous journey you have started..with a gorgeous completed journal..By the way I love your own intuitive style the best of all...so much you have learned and accomplished!! A great inspiration! Happy New year and thanks for sharing!!

Well you should give yourself a huge pat on the back Diane,You've actually achieved a fantastic journal which is so vibrant and free. It's delightful. What a journey you've had. You are inspiring... do you know that? Thank you for sharing and Happy New Year to you!

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knewwhat you had to do, and began,though the voices around youkept shoutingtheir bad advice--though the whole housebegan to trembleand you felt the old tugat your ankles."Mend my life!"each voice cried.But you didn't stop.You knew what you had to do,though the wind priedwith its stiff fingersat the very foundations,though their melancholywas terrible.It was already lateenough, and a wild night,and the road full of fallenbranches and stones.But little by little,as you left their voices behind,the stars began to burnthrough the sheets of clouds,and there was a new voicewhich you slowlyrecognized as your own,that kept you companyas you strode deeper and deeperinto the world,determined to dothe only thing you could do--determined to savethe only life you could

The Dark Night Of The SoulBy Saint John of the CrossTranslated by A.Z. Foreman

Songs of the soul rejoicing at having achieved the high state of perfection, the Union with God, by way of spiritual negation.

Once in the dark of night,Inflamed with love and wanting, I arose(O coming of delight!)And went, as no one knows,When all my house lay long in deep repose

All in the dark went right,Down secret steps, disguised in other clothes, (O coming of delight!)In dark when no one knows, When all my house lay long in deep repose.

And in the luck of nightIn secret places where no other spied I went without my sightWithout a light to guideExcept the heart that lit me from inside.

It guided me and shoneSurer than noonday sunlight over me,And lead me to the oneWhom only I could seeDeep in a place where only we could be.

O guiding dark of night!O dark of night more darling than the dawn!O night that can uniteA lover and loved one,Lover and loved one moved in unison.

And on my flowering breastWhich I had kept for him and him alone He slept as I caressedAnd loved him for my own,Breathing an air from redolent cedars blown.And from the castle wall The wind came down to winnow through his hairBidding his fingers fall,Searing my throat with airAnd all my senses were suspended there. I stayed there to forget.There on my lover, face to face, I lay.All ended, and I letMy cares all fall awayForgotten in the lilies on that day.

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Welcome to my blog! I am married, a high school science teacher, a marine mom, and former army drill Sargent. I find myself at a point in my life where I am experiencing new adventures and a sudden surge in creativity. My brain decided "enough with all that left brained stuff, let's play with your right brain for a while". I now enjoy art journaling, mixed media art, photography, and I recently started swapping my art on Swap-Bot. Who knew one's life could change so drastically! I'm lovin' it!